Making History on the World Stage

Study in the U.S.

Bring your skills back to Kosovo.

In Honor of David Gotaas

Kosovo's Leadership

Become part of Kosovo's bright future.

Kosovo's Future Leaders

The KAEF educational fund supports educational programs that provide Kosovo's future leaders with the tools they need to promote the country's future prosperity.

Merit-Based

KAEF fellowships are open to all eligible applicants, and are awarded through a merit-based competition. Fellows study in master's level programs for one or two years, obtain a degree, and participate in professional internships.

Help Kosovo

To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of Kosovo, proficient in written and spoken English, and committed to returning to Kosovo after completion of the program.

Give your support now

The Academic Program

The Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) is dedicated to the long-term economic development of Kosovo through the education of its people. KAEF provides up to 8 graduate fellowships per year to promising Kosovars for top-level training at select U.S. universities.

Without exception, KAEF Fellows have performed at a high academic level. In addition, KAEF Fellows receive an opportunity for valuable practical experience, including:

Summer internships – KAEF Fellows are required to intern with a business or organization working in their field of expertise during the summer months.

Practical training – KAEF Fellows are given the option of staying in the U.S. for an extended period of time after completing their degree in order to participate in a practical training internship.

KAEF Fellows have served with, among other organizations, Dell Computers, the World Bank, Voice of America, the International Finance Corporation, the Duke Center for International Development, and the Xerox Corporation.

The KAEF Program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion or disability. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Competition for the KAEF Program is merit-based and open to anyone who meets the following requirements:

In possession of a passport from Kosovo by October 2017.

An habitual resident in Kosovo and residing in Kosovo at the time of application and during the selection process.

Able to convincingly demonstrate existing and durable ties to Kosovo, and a firm commitment to return to Kosovo for at least two years after the completion of the program.

The recipient of an undergraduate degree by the time of study in the U.S. (degree must be in law in order to apply to the KAEF Program in the field of law).

Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.

Able to demonstrate professional aptitude and leadership potential in the selected field of specialization.

Able to begin the program of study in the United States in the summer of 2018.

Able to receive and maintain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa.

With KAEF, you don't have to be wealthy or to attend a private university to take advantage of the very best the American educational system has to offer.

Applicants whom have already earned a Master's degree from a U.S. university will not be considered.

Second, highly ranked candidates are interviewed and tested in Kosovo.

Finally, the applications, test scores, and interview results of highly ranked candidates are reviewed by U.S. admissions experts and fellowship awardees are selected. Results are announced in early summer.

The KAEF program does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, age, race, color, gender, religion, or disability. Competition for the KAEF program is merit-based and open to anyone.

Alumni Highlights

There are currently 80 alumni of the KAEF program that have successfully completed all aspects of the program and returned to Kosovo.

Returning to Kosovo and being part of the team entrusted with the mission of promoting sustained economic growth requires a vast understanding of business matters and all the factors involved in the process - social, political, international. I strongly believe the programs offered by the top-notch universities of the KAEF Program will provide me with the theoretical framework and practical skills necessary to bring a significant contribution to the advancement of Kosovo's business environment.

Edona Paqarada

2007-2009

As a computer science major, I enjoyed the feeling of making my colleagues' lives easier. Automatic processing, transforming large amount of data into meaningful information are some of the few things that always made me feel proud and useful member of society. For the very first time since I finished undergraduate school, I feel ready to move and become student again. I know I have valuable experience and points of view ready to share with my future classmates. I want to come back as a CIO who both professionally and academically is fulfilled, and align two different worlds of business and IT.

Blerta Berveniku

2008-2010

My goal is to attain such a level of knowledge and competence that [I could] manage large scale information systems and projects, on the one hand, and contribute to the overall business management of companies, on the other . . . I have chosen the US for my MBA studies because I believe that the US has the best management schools, with practically-oriented courses that prepare students for real-life management challenges.

Lulëzon Jagxhiu

Today, KAEF is supported largely through the charitable support of individual Kosovars, Americans, and American universities.

About KAEF

The Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) is an education fund administered by American Councils and dedicated to the long-term economic development of Kosovo through the education of its people. KAEF provides up to 8 graduate fellowships per year to promising Kosovars for top-level training at select U.S. universities. After returning to Kosovo, program graduates assume leadership positions in government, business, finance, and nonprofit organizations, using their knowledge and attained skills to generate sustainable and positive change.